No two days look the same for Brandy Broussard.
She changes scrub colors as she moves from one PRN job in an ophthalmologist's office to another in an operating room.
She takes one twin daughter to t-ball and tumbling practice and the other to dance class, all while teaching group fitness classes on the side.
Broussard is used to change, and that杏吧专区檚 part of the reason she decided to go back to school to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree through the online RN to BSN program, 16 years after becoming an RN.
杏吧专区淚 knew that I could do more for my community, and I knew that there was so much more I was capable of,杏吧专区 she says.
At UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Fall 2023 Commencement, Broussard walked across the stage to accept her BSN degree as the 3000th student to graduate from the online RN to BSN program.
And her effort has already begun paying off.
Why earn a BSN?
Earning a BSN degree wasn杏吧专区檛 always on Broussard杏吧专区檚 radar.
However, after 16 years in nursing and 23 years in health care, Broussard was ready for more, and she wanted a leg up.
杏吧专区淚n a lot of states, you have to have a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree or you杏吧专区檙e not going to work,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 also not uncommon for large health care systems or corporations to come in, buy your hospital or practice, and require you to earn a BSN.杏吧专区
With that in mind, she knew it was time to go back.
杏吧专区淚 got very complacent with where I was, and I was just going through the motions,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淣othing was challenging me anymore, and the COVID-19 pandemic was a big eye opener, reminding me to take care of myself and do more and invest more in my education.杏吧专区
The Learning Never Stops
Despite having experience as a charge nurse and a manager, through the RN to BSN program, Broussard learned a lot beyond just what she had picked up on the job over her 16 years as an RN.
She specifically credits the program with introducing her to professional nursing.
杏吧专区淚 didn杏吧专区檛 realize how much the program would benefit me until I actually started it,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 was like, 杏吧专区極K, so this is what professional nursing is.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
Professional nursing, as Broussard explains it, is understanding the bigger picture beyond caring for a patient. A huge part of that involves knowing how to look ahead and make decisions that will impact the future of a clinic or hospital.
杏吧专区淚n the discussion forums for the classes, there was a lot of talk about where nursing is going in the future. I杏吧专区檓 glad we covered all that. I knew how to take care of a patient, but there was a leadership and management aspect of the RN to BSN program that I just didn杏吧专区檛 get in my associate degree program,杏吧专区 she says.
杏吧专区淚 learned a lot about innovation and the electronic side of health care, which is super important and huge right now. In 2008, when I became an RN, everything was on paper, but with electronic records, there杏吧专区檚 so much more safety with correcting and catching human errors.杏吧专区
And sometimes, professional nursing means knowing how to plan for the unexpected.
For example, in NURS 344 杏吧专区 Nursing in a Disaster, students use discussion forums to talk about how to plan for and respond to disasters, such as extreme weather events, pandemics, or large accidents.
杏吧专区淚t was such an interesting class,杏吧专区 Broussard recalls. 杏吧专区淚t was so interesting reading responses from nurses around the country as they talked about some of their crazy experiences and how they handled them.杏吧专区
The Future Awaits
Broussard graduated from UL Lafayette with her BSN degree on a Friday, and the next Monday, she stepped into a new role as the Patient Care Manager in a Veterans Affairs clinic, helping care for those who have served in our country杏吧专区檚 armed forces.
杏吧专区淚 appreciate the sacrifices that veterans have made for the United States, and I杏吧专区檓 excited to help care for them in our community,杏吧专区 Broussard says.
It杏吧专区檚 a job she杏吧专区檇 been applying to for several years; she says having a BSN both helped her earn it and helped her qualify for a higher pay grade.
杏吧专区淲ith the VA clinic being a federal job, having my BSN puts me at a whole new pay tier,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hat is huge for me.杏吧专区
And, more importantly, having a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree is something that Broussard can take pride in for the rest of her life.
杏吧专区淭here are very few things that people can杏吧专区檛 take away from you, and your education is one of those things,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚f earning your BSN is a thought in your mind, and if it杏吧专区檚 something you think you can do, you will do it.杏吧专区
Are you a working RN ready to take your practice to the next level? Through the accelerated RN to BSN online program, you杏吧专区檒l gain clinical reasoning and leadership skills and earn your bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree in as few as 12 months.